Beltaine, May 1 Beltaine, also called May Day by many Christians. This Sabbat celebrates the fertility and union of the Horned God and the Goddess. At this time, life is renewing itself. Birds and animals are mating. In the fields, newly planted seeds are beginning to grow. Great fires are lit honoring the fertility God Belenos. Some leap the fires to show the exuberance of the season. A Maypole is erected and bright ribbons are hung on it. The Maypole, a phallic symbol, represents the masculine. The soft colored ribbons are the feminine. The union of the two symbolizes the union of the God and Goddess. This is the time…

The Between Time Beltane is one of the most important festivals of the pagan year traditionally marking the arrival of summer in ancient times. With its counterpart Samhain, Beltane divides the year into its two primary seasons, Winter the Dark and Summer the Light. It’s the festival of fertility, celebrating beginnings and reproduction, the height of Spring and the flowering of life. Beltane is also known as May Eve, May Day, and Walpurgis Night. Sacred woods are kindled, (make sure you jump over the Beltane Fire, move through it, or dance clockwise around it). In ancient Rome, the Floralia from April 27-May 3 was the festival of the Flower Goddess…

For a look at Celia’s May 2009 performances go to: http://www.my.calendars.net/celiaonline/d01/05/2009?display=M&style=B&positioning=A For more information on Celia, you can visit her at her site: http://celiaonline.com/

May Correspondences The name of the month is garnered from the Greek Goddess Maia, the most important of the Seven Sisters (the Pleiades), and (some say) the mother of Hermes. Some form of this Goddess name is known from Ireland to India. She is known to be the mother of Hermes. In Rome she was called Maius, Goddess of Summer. Moon: The Hare Moon Astrological Signs: Taurus, Gemini Nature Spirits: Faeries, elves Herbs: Dittany of Crete, elder, mint, rose, mugwort, thyme, yarrow Colors: Green, brown, pink Flowers: Lily of the valley, foxglove, rose, broom Scents: Rose, sandalwood Stones: Emerald (birth stone), malachite, amber, carnelian Trees: Hawthorne Animals: Cats, lynx, leopard…

Merry Meet and welcome Readers! We hope you all had a blessed holiday! It is finally spring and what a beautiful spring this will be. At our house it is time for spring cleaning! We have a packed issue for you this month full of great ideas, thoughts, questions, and fantastic Interviews Kala Ambrose John Michael Greer You are welcome to leave your comments at the bottom of each article or you can write us at anytime to admin @ paganpages.org (just delete the spaces). We are always on the look out for new talent so if you would like to give writing a go you can send us a…

Beltaine, also called May Day by many Christians. This Sabbat celebrates the fertility and union of the Horned God and the Goddess. At this time, life is renewing itself. Birds and animals are mating. In the fields, newly planted seeds are beginning to grow. Great fires are lit honoring the fertility God Belenos. Some leap the fires to show the exuberance of the season. A Maypole is erected and bright ribbons are hung on it. The Maypole, a phallic symbol, represents the masculine. The soft colored ribbons are the feminine. The union of the two symbolizes the union of the God and Goddess. This is the time to fertilize your…

April Legends and Lore April, the fourth month of the current Gregorian calendar and the second month of Spring’s rule, derives its name from Aprillis, the Latin name for the ancient Roman love goddess Aphrodite. Other reference sources give aperite, the Latin word meaning “to open,” as the origination of the month’s name. The traditional birthstone amulet of April is the diamond, and the daisy and the sweet pea are the month’s traditional flowers. April is shared by the astrological signs of Aries the Ram and Taurus the Bull, and is sacred to the following Pagan deities: Aphrodite, Artemis, Astarte, Erzulie, Terra, Venus, and Ying-Hua. The name April comes from…

Other Names: celtic ~ Summer’s End, pronounced "sow" (rhymes with now) "en" (Ireland), sow-een (Wales) – "mh" in the middle is a "w" sound – Greater Sabbat(High Holiday) – Fire Festival Oct 31-Nov 1(North Hemisphere) – Apr 30-May 1 – The Great Sabbat, Samhiunn, Samana, Samhuin, Sam-fuin, Samonios, Halloween, Hallomas, All Hallows Eve, All Saints/All Souls Day(Catholic), Day of the Dead (Mexican), Witches New Year, Trinoux Samonia, Celtic/ Druid New Year, Shadowfest (Strega), Martinmas or Old Hallowmas (Scotttish/Celtic) Lá Samhna (Modern Irish), Festival of the Dead, Feile Moingfinne (Snow Goddess), Hallowtide (Scottish Gaelis Dictionary), Feast of All Souls, Nos Galen-gae-of Night of the Winter Calends (Welsh), La Houney or Hollantide…

Also known as: May Day, Bealtaine, Beltane, Bhealtainn, Bealtinne, Festival of Tana (Strega), Giamonios, Rudemass, and Walburga (Teutonic), Cetsamhain (opposite Samhain),Fairy Day ,Sacred Thorn Day, Rood Day, Roodmas (the Christian term for Rood Day, Old Beltane, Beltain, Baltane, Walpurgis Night, Floriala (Roman feast of flowers from April 29 to May 1), Walpurgisnacht (Germanic-feast of St. Walpurga), Thrimilce (Anglo-saxon), Bloumaand (Old Dutch) Date: May 1 Animals: Swallow, dove, swan, Cats, lynx, leopard Deities: Flower Goddesses, Divine Couples, Deities of the Hunt, Aphrodite, Artemis, Bast, Diana, Faunus, Flora, Maia, Pan, the Horned God, Venus, and all Gods and Goddesses who preside over fertility. Tools: broom, May Pole, cauldron Stones/Gems: emerald, malachite, amber,…

April 1 The month of Venus begins with April Fool’s Day (also known as All Fools’ Day), an occasion for playing practical jokes on friends, family, and coworkers. This custom dates back to olden times, when inmates of insane asylums were allowed out in the streets for one day each year for the sadistic amusement of those who were (supposedly) normal. April 2 The old Pagan custom of “carrying death away” is carried out in certain regions of Germany on this day. In celebration of Winter’s demise, special straw dolls are burned in sacred bonfires or “drowned” in sacred wells. April 3 In Iran, on the thirteenth day of their…